Dental flosser with means for adjusting floss tension

Abstract

A dental flosser is disclosed. The dental flosser comprises a U-shaped portion having a first arm and a second arm spaced apart from each other, a handle portion which extends from the U-shaped portion, a floss strand having a length and a first end and a second end, and a floss strand attachment member. The first end of the floss strand is fastened to the first arm of the U-shaped portion, and the second end of the floss strand is fastened to the floss strand attachment member, and a middle portion of the floss strand is slideably mounted to the second arm of the U-shaped portion. A user can maneuver the floss strand attachment member to increase or decrease or maintain tension of the floss strand.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A dental flosser comprising:
 a U-shaped portion having a first arm and a second arm spaced apart from each other, a handle portion which extends from the U-shaped portion, wherein the handle portion and the U-shaped portion are co-planar and define a first plane that bifurcates the handle portion and the U-shaped portion, a floss strand having a length and a first end and a second end, and a floss strand attachment member, wherein the first end of the floss strand is fastened to the first arm of the U-shaped portion, and the second end of the floss strand is fastened to the floss strand attachment member, and a middle portion of the floss strand is slideably mounted to the second arm of the U-shaped portion, wherein the first end of the floss strand is integrally embedded in the first arm of the U-shaped portion and does not move relative to the first arm of the U-shaped portion, wherein the middle portion of the floss strand passes through a channel at or near the end of the second arm of the U-shaped portion which prevents the floss strand from getting detached from the second arm of the U-shaped portion but allows the floss strand to slide through, wherein the handle portion includes a slot defined therethrough, wherein the floss strand attachment member can be received in the slot and maneuvered along the slot to increase or decrease tension of the floss strand, wherein the handle portion defines a top surface, a bottom surface and opposing first and second side surfaces, wherein the slot is defined through the handle portion from the first side surface to the second side surface wherein the first plane bifurcates the slot and the channel, wherein the floss strand attachment member includes a contact member and a male member extending from the contact member, wherein the male member defines a first axis, wherein the male member includes a proximal end that is attached to the contact member and a distal end opposite the contact member, wherein the distal end of the male member can extend into the slot and through the first plane such that the first axis is perpendicular to the first plane while the contact member is located outside the slot, and such that a user can maneuver the floss strand attachment member with the contact member. 
 
     
     
       2. A dental flosser comprising:
 a U-shaped portion having a first arm and a second arm spaced apart from each other, wherein the second arm includes a channel defined therethrough, 
 a handle portion which extends from the U-shaped portion, wherein the handle portion and the U-shaped portion are co-planar and define a first plane that bifurcates the handle portion and the U-shaped portion, wherein the handle portion includes a slot defined therethrough, wherein the handle portion defines a top surface, a bottom surface and opposing first and second side surfaces, wherein the slot is defined through the handle portion from the first side surface to the second side surface, and wherein the first plane bifurcates the slot, 
 a floss strand having a length and a first end and a second end, and 
 a floss strand attachment member that includes a contact member and a male member extending from the contact member, wherein the male member defines a first axis, wherein the male member includes a proximal end that is attached to the contact member and a distal end opposite the contact member, wherein the distal end of the male member extends into the slot and through the first plane, wherein the first axis is perpendicular to the first plane, wherein the contact member is located outside the slot such that the user can maneuver the floss strand attachment member along the slot with the contact member to increase or decrease tension of the floss strand, 
 wherein the first end of the floss strand is fastened to the first arm and the second end of the floss strand is attached to the floss strand attachment member, wherein a middle portion of the floss strand extends through the channel, and wherein the channel lies in the first plane. 
 
     
     
       3. A dental flosser comprising:
 a U-shaped portion having a first arm and a second arm spaced apart from each other, wherein the second arm includes a channel defined therethrough, 
 a handle portion which extends from the U-shaped portion, wherein the handle portion and the U-shaped portion are co-planar and define a first plane that bifurcates the handle portion and the U-shaped portion, wherein the handle portion includes a slot defined therethrough, wherein the handle portion defines a top surface, a bottom surface and opposing first and second side surfaces, wherein the slot is defined through the handle portion from the first side surface to the second side surface, and wherein the first plane bifurcates the slot, 
 a floss strand having a length and a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of the floss strand is fastened to the first arm and the second end of the floss strand is attached to the floss strand attachment member, wherein a middle portion of the floss strand extends through the channel such that a portion of the floss strand extends between the first and second arms, wherein the channel lies in the first plane, and 
 a floss strand attachment member that includes a contact member and a male member extending from the contact member, wherein the male member defines a first axis, wherein the male member includes a proximal end that is attached to the contact member and a distal end opposite the contact member, and wherein the distal end of the male member can extend into the slot and through the first plane such that the first axis is perpendicular to the first plane while the contact member is located outside the slot and can move along the slot to increase or decrease the tension of the floss strand. 
 
     
     
       4. The dental flosser according to  claim 1 , wherein the user can move the floss strand attachment member in a direction away from the first arm of the U-shaped portion to increase tension of the floss strand. 
     
     
       5. The dental flosser according to  claim 4 , wherein the user can move the floss strand attachment member in a direction toward the first arm of the U-shaped portion to decrease tension of the floss strand. 
     
     
       6. The dental flosser according to  claim 1 , wherein the dental flosser is manufactured as a one-piece product. 
     
     
       7. The dental flosser according to  claim 1 , wherein the U-shaped portion, the handle portion and the floss strand attachment member are made of the same thermoplastic material through an injection molding process and the floss strand is injection molded with the dental flosser in situ. 
     
     
       8. The dental flosser according to  claim 1 , wherein the first end of the floss strand is permanently attached to the first arm of the U-shaped portion and cannot be pulled out from the first arm of the U-shaped portion, and the first end of the floss strand is injection molded into the first arm of the U-shaped portion. 
     
     
       9. The dental flosser according to  claim 8 , wherein the second end of the floss strand is permanently attached to the floss strand attachment member and cannot be pulled out from the floss strand attachment member, and the second end of the floss strand is injection molded into the floss strand attachment member. 
     
     
       10. The dental flosser according to  claim 9 , wherein adjustment of the tension of the floss strand is accomplished by moving only the second end of the floss strand which is attached to the floss strand attachment member, whereas the position of the first end of the floss strand is not moved relative to the first arm of the U-shaped portion. 
     
     
       11. The dental flosser according to  claim 1 , wherein the floss strand attachment member is detachably connected to the handle portion via a frangible connecting point, wherein the floss strand extends linearly from the first arm of the U-shaped portion, through the channel and to the floss strand attachment member. 
     
     
       12. The dental flosser according to  claim 11 , wherein the frangible connecting point is on the same plane as the channel. 
     
     
       13. The dental flosser according to  claim 1 , wherein the floss strand attachment member is detachably connected to the handle at a frangible connecting point, and wherein the frangible connecting point is configured to be broken, such that the floss strand attachment member is separated from the handle portion to generate a detached floss strand attachment member. 
     
     
       14. The dental flosser according to  claim 1 , wherein the channel at or near the end of the second arm is generally perpendicular to the second arm. 
     
     
       15. The dental flosser according to  claim 2  wherein the contact member has a width and a thickness and defines a second plane in the width direction, wherein the user can maneuver the floss strand attachment member along the slot with the contact member where the second plane is parallel to the first plane to increase or decrease tension of the floss strand. 
     
     
       16. The dental flosser according to  claim 2 , wherein the male member extends from the contact member and through the slot in a lateral direction such that male member extends from the first side surface of the handle toward the second side surface of the handle. 
     
     
       17. The dental flosser of  claim 3  wherein the male member can move along the slot in a direction that is not parallel to the portion of the floss strand that extends between the first and second arms.